BY: AMORGANDA Y. SALUDAR
Central Visayas, March 24 (PIA) --- In celebration of the International Day of Forests (IDY), more than 6,000 mangrove propagules covering about six hectares in various coastal areas in the four provinces in Central Visayas were simultaneously planted.
Said initiative was held March 21 which has been declared by the United Nations as IDY to increase the level of awareness on the importance of forests.
In a press release, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-7) Regional Executive Director Dr. Isabelo Montejo said that “we have been organizing a mangrove planting and growing to ensure our coastal communities from the threats of storm surges and big waves as typhoon Yolanda taught us a lesson to improve our coastal areas with vegetation such as mangroves and other beach forests.”
Montejo said ”mangroves are salt tolerant, woody, seed-bearing plants ranging in size from small shrubs to tall trees. They occur along sheltered intertidal coastlines and in association with estuaries and lagoons.”
In the province of Cebu alone, more than 2,000 mangroves were planted in Barangay Talaga, Argao town.
The mangrove plantation in Argao was participated in by nearly 200 participants from DENR-7, students, and some Argao local government unit personnel.
Montejo revealed that out of 70 mangrove tree species in the world, 34 occur in the Philippines, and one hectare of mangrove trees produces up to 3.6 tons of litterfall annually and one hectare of healthy mangrove ecosystem produces about 1.08 tons of fish per year.
Mangroves provide nursery grounds for fish, prawns and crabs, and support fisheries production in coastal waters; protect the environment by protecting coastal areas and communities from storm surges, waves, tidal currents and typhoons; produce organic biomass (carbon) and reduce organic pollution in nearshore areas by trapping or absorption.
Meanwhile, a lecture on the importance of forests was conducted in Yanaya National High School in Bilar, Bohol with more than 200 high school students.
Community Environment and Natural Resources Officer (CENRO) Tagbilaran City Eusalem Quiwag served as a resource person. (rmn/AYS/PIA 7/DENR 7)